Happy Friday, friends. I still havenít had the four hours or so necessary to watch the All-22 of the Broncos-Giants game, and then write an article on it. Iím planning to do that tomorrow, so check the site on a Saturday. (I know you all have the capability.) I actually planned to watch the film last night, but I got caught up watching the Chiefs-Eagles game instead.

Youíre not going to like this, but I thought it was time that we all came to the realization that the Chiefs are legitimate. Briefly, today, Iíll share some thoughts on this most regrettable of topics.

For Kansas City, it all starts with their ability to play defense, specifically man-to-man coverage on defense. They have two above-average man corners in Brandon Flowers and Sean Smith, and they also have safety Eric Berry, whoís proving to be very capable at covering TEs man-to-man.

When you can play man coverage (like the Broncos can, as well), you get more options tactically than youíd have if your guys could only hold up in zone. If you can play 5-on-5, with one high safety, youíre left with a free guy, to either use as an extra rusher, or as a robber type of player in coverage.

Whatís maybe even more impressive about the Chiefs is that theyíre getting dominant play off both edges (Justin Houston and Tamba Hali) and on the nose, with the vastly improved Dontari Poe. This Chiefs team can really generate some pressure on the QB, and that dovetails nicely with being able to lock down good receivers outside.

I saw some comments in the Lard today saying that the Chiefs looked like an average team. I donít agree with that. As I watched them, I thought they looked a good deal like the 2011 49ers, and that team probably should have been in the Super Bowl.

Alex Smith has been doing an excellent job of managing the game, and the Chiefs have zero turnovers through three games. At this point, nobody can say that Smith is a fluke when it comes to protecting the football. In 2011, his interception rate was 1.1%, which led the NFL. In 2012, it was 2.3%, which tied with Matt Ryan for tenth. This year, obviously, itís zero. He is good at not throwing the ball to the other team.

Smith isnít really a big play guy, but with the defense Kansas City has, he doesnít have to be. He can matriculate the ball down the field, and do well enough by getting the ball to the open guy short. Heís also added 115 rushing yards in three games, which is a good amount for a QB.

Thereís a way to win in the NFL, by playing good defense (particularly against the pass), and by winning the turnover battle. Thatís what the 49ers did the last couple years, and thatís what this yearís Chiefs team is doing.

I said in an email to the other IAOFM guys yesterday that the Chiefs were probably destined to regress to the mean on turnovers, but the more I think about it, the less I think they will. Smith is huge in that regard, as mentioned, but itís notable that the team has only even fumbled the ball once in three games. (That was credited to Smith.)

Recovering fumbles is random, and highly dependent on luck, but not fumbling the ball isnít random. Itís a skill, and a discipline, and a coaching priority. So far, it looks like this is another skill that the Chiefs have going for them.

I know what some of you are thinking - they haven't played anybody yet! How do you know? Is it fully clear yet who is a good team and who's a bad team? I'll grant you that Jacksonville is in rough shape this year. Dallas, though, has the talent to compete with anybody in the NFL. The fact that KC's corners mostly won against Dallas's WRs is compelling evidence of the quality of the Chiefs defense. As for Philadelphia, they have pretty good offensive talent too, and their scheme makes that talent a step better. (Admittedly, their defense isn't good.)

I donít necessarily think that the Chiefs are ready to win a Super Bowl this year, but I do think theyíll give anybody they play a hard time on any given Sunday. To beat their defense, you have to run the ball well, and beat up on their nickel CB with good play from the slot. Philly got them for 260 yards rushing, and 9.3 yards per carry, and it's clear that the Chiefs can still be run on.

To beat their offense, itís helpful to bottle up the running game, and to keep Smith in long yardage situations. If you let him get to 3rd-and-4 very often, heís going to beat you. Over the long run of a game, Smith makes up for not being great at drilling the 20-yard deep out by almost always finding the right receiver on 3rd-and-4, and almost always putting the short throw right where it needs to be.

I would say that the Chiefs are probably the second-most impressive team Iíve seen in the AFC so far this season. Itís a credit to Andy Reid, and the smart moves they made, like keeping LT Branden Albert, signing Sean Smith and DE Mike DeVito, trading for Alex Smith, and picking up Donnie Avery (who has skills) off the scrap heap. I think they may have erred in taking RT Eric Fisher first overall (I thought the best players in the class were DT Star Lotulelei and OLB Jarvis Jones), but Fisher is still likely going to be a good player.

Itís early, but we should watch out for the Chiefs. If they can beat Houston at home in Week 7, thereís a pretty good chance we could see 8-0 Kansas City visiting Denver on November 17th (coming off a bye) to play a 9-0 Broncos team. How exciting would that be?

I guess you could say the Chiefs are overrated but 2 of the 3 teams they beat had at least 1 win.

And of our 3 wins only 1 was even a close game...

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Quote:

"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself. I'm thinking, 'You can have your money back, just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant." I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."Denver rookie QB John Elway, on Jack Lambert, after Lambert and the Steelers knocked Elway out of his first game as a pro (1983).

Once the OL pulls it's head out (if it can) we'll be able to improve offensively which will make us much more dangerous. Reid is going to have to improve the play calling though. We need more runs early to set up play action.

Once the OL pulls it's head out (if it can) we'll be able to improve offensively which will make us much more dangerous. Reid is going to have to improve the play calling though. We need more runs early to set up play action.

You're tight about the O-Line. I also think once we get two healthy TE's back who are capable of blocking and catching the ball, the offense will improve.

Once the OL pulls it's head out (if it can) we'll be able to improve offensively which will make us much more dangerous. Reid is going to have to improve the play calling though. We need more runs early to set up play action.

Set up the run as a danger early on. Use the defense to set up field position early on. Pressure the special teams to tackle and block better.

Help Alex help US...

__________________

Quote:

"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself. I'm thinking, 'You can have your money back, just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant." I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."Denver rookie QB John Elway, on Jack Lambert, after Lambert and the Steelers knocked Elway out of his first game as a pro (1983).

You're tight about the O-Line. I also think once we get two healthy TE's back who are capable of blocking and catching the ball, the offense will improve.

I think originally we were going to run a lot of 2 TE sets and now we're playing guys pretty much off the street. We've won but I can't help but think we are playing handicapped. If we can get Fasano and Kelce healthy over this mini bye week maybe we can start putting up more offense. With those two guys coming back and what we've apparently found in Avery we could become much more potent.

I think originally we were going to run a lot of 2 TE sets and now we're playing guys pretty much off the street. We've won but I can't help but think we are playing handicapped. If we can get Fasano and Kelce healthy over this mini bye week maybe we can start putting up more offense. With those two guys coming back and what we've apparently found in Avery we could become much more potent.

Avery and Bowe should be the primary targets.
Avery has proven he can fight coverage and get open for a small speedster and Bow has that "Gonzo-factor" of never being covered even if he's covered.

Charles is always a stud outlet in the flat.

Then everyone else on the team.

In that ****ing order...

__________________

Quote:

"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself. I'm thinking, 'You can have your money back, just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant." I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."Denver rookie QB John Elway, on Jack Lambert, after Lambert and the Steelers knocked Elway out of his first game as a pro (1983).

Avery and Bowe should be the primary targets.
Avery has proven he can fight coverage and get open for a small speedster and Bow has that "Gonzo-factor" of never being covered even if he's covered.

Charles is always a stud outlet in the flat.

Then everyone else on the team.

In that ****ing order...

I'm not going to disagree but having our starting TE options backs should open it up for those guys and give us more options across the board. Should help us in the red zone where we weren't so hot this week.

I'm not going to disagree but having our starting TE options backs should open it up for those guys and give us more options across the board. Should help us in the red zone where we weren't so hot this week.

The biggest contribution will be help to Fish on the right side...

__________________

Quote:

"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself. I'm thinking, 'You can have your money back, just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant." I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."Denver rookie QB John Elway, on Jack Lambert, after Lambert and the Steelers knocked Elway out of his first game as a pro (1983).

want to bet, bitch? You spend absolutely zero time on Broncos message boards because of your large vagina. I actually read this guys website because it's posted so much (and honestly this guy steals a lot of material for the Omane).